In Dallas’ Bid For Walkability, The LOOP Aims to ‘Connect Dallas With Dallas’
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For decades, developers and municipal leaders have used the word “connectivity” to inspire a sense of community among residents. The LOOP Dallas, however, put its money where its mouth is, and made that concept a reality.
Using the hashtag #ConnectingDallasWithDallas, the Circuit Trail Conservancy leveraged 39 existing miles of the best-known trails in Dallas and connected them with 11 miles of new trails to create a 50-mile uninterrupted trail loop, explained CTC Executive Director Philip Hiatt Haigh.
“While The LOOP does not connect every resident, the CTC is working with other projects and partners to increase the number of trails and access points,” he said. “Currently, many Dallas neighborhoods and regions are not benefiting from the economic growth and investment experienced by others. By increasing the number of trails and setting the quality standard of future trails in Dallas, The LOOP will bridge geographic barriers that have isolated neighborhoods from transportation hubs. It will provide a walkable and bikeable solution to connect people and resources in all corners of our city via abundant green space that is easy and enjoyable to use.”
A Walk In The Park
Dallas resident Casie Pierce, who lives near the under-construction Trinity Forest Spine Trail, said she sees evidence that the city’s decades-long promise of economic opportunity and quality-of-life amenities might begin to come true in the trail’s construction.
For the first time, she won’t need a car to leave her community, Pierce said.
“For the first time, walkers, runners, and bicyclists who live south of Interstate 30 will be able to safely access some of the city’s most popular north-side greenspaces,” she said. “Those in the north will be able to walk or ride in southern Dallas’ superior topography.”
Andrea Aldrich, a Murphy resident, visits sections of The LOOP to go on adventures with her yellow lab/husky mix, Buddy.
“For me, it’s beneficial because we live in a Metroplex area. We’re not, like, in the middle of Montana. You can’t just go out and sit in nature,” Aldrich said. “Being able to go and walk around on a trail or something other than concrete is a reconnection with nature. And with a trail system, you can do more than walk around your neighborhood. The closest state park is more than an hour away, so you end up committing your entire day. Nature trails in an urban area give you an opportunity to have a similar experience without having to drive to another state. In neighborhoods, groups of people can share these experiences with each other — biking, hiking, and walking with other dog groups. It’s about community and shared experiences.”
Aldrich also likes to hike the DORBA (Dallas Off Road Bicycle Association) Trails and said she wanders around Collin County, Dallas, Frisco, northern McKinney, and past Rowlett. It’s key for her to have a trail wide enough so she can unleash her dog and ensure that he won’t be hit by a mountain biker making a sharp turn.
Trailblazing
The LOOP has been developed in segments since 2020 and is overseen by a board of directors.
“In 2008, the City of Dallas passed a 230-mile master trail plan. However, without a private-sector advocate, the project would have cost the city hundreds of millions of dollars and taken decades to complete,” states information on The LOOP website. “By working with public and private stakeholders, the CTC is taking a holistic approach to raise funds to build The LOOP.”
To date, $43 million in funding has been secured to build The LOOP, including $10 million from private donors, $20 million allocated in the 2017 Dallas Bond Package, $8 million allocated to the Hi Line Connector by the Texas Department of Transportation, and $5 million allotted to the Trinity Forest Spine Trail by Dallas County Commissioner Theresa Daniel.
Daniel, who represents District 1, could not be reached for comment.
What’s Next
Five “complicated” projects are in the queue, according to a recent social media post on The Loop’s fanpage, followed by 1,500 residents.
Those projects include:
- Hi Line Connector (will connect the Trinity Strand Trail with the Katy Trail)
- Trinity Forest Spine Trail (will connect the Santa Fe Trail with the Pemberton Hill Road Trail)
- Trinity Gateway (connects the Trinity Strand Trail with the Skyline Trail)
- Trinity Skyline Trail Link (will connect the Santa Fe Trestle Trail with the Trinity Forest Trail).
- The Loop Plaza
“These projects are particularly challenging because of existing infrastructure and land obstacles and require expert engineering teams. The Trinity Forest Spine Trail is under construction,” the post states.
